The Shropshire Union Canal Conservation Area Appraisal August 2015 Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 2 Summary of Special Interest, the Shropshire Union Canal Canal Conservation Area ..... 4 3 Historical Development…………………………...……………………………………………6 4 Location and Topography……………………………………………….…………………....11 5 Buildings and Structures of the Shropshire Union ........................................................ 14 6 Buildings, Setting and Views: Weaton Aston Brook to Little Onn Bridge 28 7 Little Onn Bridge to Castle Cutting Bridge .................................................................... 31 8 Castle Cutting Bridge to Boat Inn Bridge ...................................................................... 35 9 Boat Inn Bridge to Machins Barn Bridge…………………………………………..………...39 10 Machins barn Bridge to Norbury Junction……………………………………………..……42 11 Norbury Junction and Newport Branch ......................................................................... 45 12 Norbury Junction to Grub Street Bridge ........................................................................ 55 13 Grub Street Bridge to Shebdon Wharf .......................................................................... 58 14 Shebdon Bridge to Knighton Wood .............................................................................. 66 15 Key Positive Characteristics ........................................................................................ 66 16 Negative aspects that impact on the character of the conservation area…………..…...69 17 20th and 21st century development affecting the setting of the conservation area….…..73 18 Successful Development that contributes to the character of the conservation area…..77 19 Protecting the Character and Appearance of the Conservation Area ............................ 78 20 Recommendations for Future Management ................................................................. 80 21 Boundary Revisions ..................................................................................................... 82 References…………………………………………………………………………………………..84 Introduction 1.1. Definition 1. A Conservation Area is defined in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, as an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. Section 69 (1) of the Act imposes a duty on the local planning authority to identify areas of special architectural or historic interest, and to designate those places as conservation areas. Designation helps to ensure that an area identified for its architectural and historic significance is managed and protected appropriately. 1.2. Purpose of Appraisal 1.2.1. A conservation area appraisal is a means of identifying and assessing the special architectural or historic character of a place. The Shropshire Union Canal Conservation Area is an extensive linear conservation area, and was first designated on 18 September 1984 by the Borough Councils of Newcastle-Under-Lyme and Stafford, South Staffordshire District Council and Staffordshire County Council. At that time a joint Conservation Area document was produced, covering the whole of the Staffordshire section of the Canal. The Norbury Junction Conservation Area was designated as a conservation area in 1970 by Staffordshire County Council, prior to the active process of canal corridor conservation area designation by many local authorities. As Norbury Junction forms a key part of the character of the Shropshire Union Canal, the Norbury Junction Conservation Area will now form part of the Shropshire Union Canal Conservation Area. 1 1.2.2. Under section 69 (2) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, it is a requirement of local planning authorities to update conservation area appraisals regularly, and designate further areas as necessary. Local councils are now reviewing their sections of the Shropshire Union Canal Conservation Area independently. The purpose of this appraisal is to assess and define the special character and appearance of the Stafford Borough section of the Shropshire Union Canal, and to identify any threats or future threats to the area’s character and integrity. 1.2.3. Appraisal ensures that the local authority, developers, property owners and the local community are aware of the area’s special character when drawing up and assessing proposals for change. 1.3. Effects of Conservation Area Designation 1.3.1. The conservation area appraisal will be adopted as a “material consideration” in the planning process and will be used by the local planning authority when considering the effects of any proposed development affecting the conservation area, including its setting. 1.4. Certain works in a conservation area require consent: 1.4.1. Planning Permission is required for the demolition or substantial demolition of an unlisted building within a conservation area. 1.4.2. Works to trees: Anyone proposing to cut down, top or lop a tree in a conservation area, even if the tree is not protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), must notify the local planning authority and allow six weeks before commencing work. This gives the local planning authority the opportunity to make a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) if the tree is considered to be important. 2 1.4.3. Permitted Development Rights, i.e. those works of alteration or extension that can be carried out without planning permission, are slightly different in conservation areas. Some conservation areas are covered by Article 4 Directions, which restrict certain Permitted Development Rights, for example the installation of uPVC windows or satellite dishes. These are specific to each conservation area, and are in place to ensure the special historic and architectural character is protected. 1.5. Community Involvement 1.5.1. Stafford Borough Council’s Statement of Community Involvement sets out to ensure that all sections of the community and interested parties have a reasonable opportunity to engage with plan-making and planning application processes. A public consultation will take place and interested parties invited to comment on the findings of the appraisal. 1.6 Planning Policy Context- National Planning Policy Framework policy relevant to the Shropshire Union Canal Conservation Area National planning policy is contained in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Section 12 relates to conserving and enhancing the historic environment and paragraphs 127-141 are relevant to the Shropshire Union Canal Conservation Area. Historic England’s Good Practice Advice (GPA) notes 1,2,3 (2015) is the national conservation guidance to support the NPPF policies and supersedes PPS5. 1.6.1 Local Planning Policy relevant to the Shropshire Union Canal Conservation Area Local planning policy is contained within The Plan for Stafford Borough (adopted 2014). Section 12 Environment contains policies relevant to the Shropshire Union Canal Conservation Area: Policies N8: Landscape Character, N9: Historic Environment and paragraphs 12.45-12.56. 3 2. Summary of Special Interest, the Shropshire Union Canal Conservation Area 2.1. The Shropshire Union Canal Conservation Area is considered to be of considerable industrial archaeological significance as the last of the major trunk waterways to be built in the Canal Era of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, both nationally and locally. It was first designated on 18 September 1984 as a means of preserving and enhancing the special architectural and historic interest that has been retained since its creation. 2.2. This appraisal defines the special architectural and historic interest of the Stafford Borough section of the Shropshire Union Canal Conservation Area as it stands today. 2.3. The key elements of the Stafford Borough Section of the Shropshire Union Canal Conservation Area are summarised as follows: A ‘modern’ canal built between 1827-1835 marking the end of the major canal development in Britain, and the last major work to be undertaken by its originator and engineer, Thomas Telford A typical ‘Telford’ canal, notable for many pioneering feats of civil engineering: deep rock cuttings, high embankments, and aqueducts A wealth of single-span brick and stone road and accommodation bridges, all but one contemporary with the canal and all but two listed at grade II. Historic canal side buildings including farms and canal side pubs A variety of surviving historic surfaces, especially under bridges, including sandstone copings and brick paving. Groups of associated industrial buildings strategically located close to the canal, such as the Cadbury’s Factory at Knighton and Coton Mill at Gnosall, reflecting the importance of the canal for industry. 4 Surviving wharfs and boatyards: such as at Norbury Junction, Shebdon and High Onn, providing focal points of the canal community, past and present. Local details such as distinctive early 19th century cast iron mileposts and other canal ironwork features such as bridge plates and strapping posts. A predominantly rural canal setting characterised by enclosed cuttings, open agricultural landscape, and canal side communities and settlements providing exceptional scenic interest. Long reaching views out over rolling countryside peppered with dispersed farmsteads and small villages. 5 3. Historical Development 3.1 The canals of Staffordshire are numerous and extensive. Historically